External Funding: Education Grants and Scholarships

QNIS no longer offers individual education grants. There are a number of other organisations which may be able to help nurses with funding; please follow the links below for further details. If you have any further questions, the QNIS staff would be happy to help.

Some of these organisations provide funding for specific areas, some provide more general grants. The list below is in alphabetical order so please have a thorough look through.

This list was last updated in April 2018.

Education & Research Funding

These are available throughout the year. The RCN scholarships, bursaries and grants fund a wide variety of learning, development and research opportunities, providing the support individuals need to make a difference to quality patient care.

The Nurses Memorial for King Edward VII help those in need by way of gifts for heating, support payments, grants for equipment and single payments when support is needed. Educational bursaries are also available.

NHS Education for Scotland is pleased to announce that applications are now being invited for the above award. The 2018-2019 scholarships are open to registered nurses and midwives resident and practising in Scotland. We welcome applications from registered nurses across health and social care.

The British Geriatrics Society (BGS) offers a limited number of grants to trained nurses (and nurses in training) with a special interest in the care of elderly people to attend meetings and/or to visit services with an innovative approach.

The grants are available to trained nurses and to nurses still in training irrespective of professional affiliation.

This Burdett Trust programme will make small grants to projects that are nurse-led and focussed on supporting the nursing contribution to healthcare. All projects must be focussed on improving care for patients through nursing and may include multi-professional or team-working interventions. Projects may involve clinical care, environment of care, social care, leadership and/or education.

Established in 1901 under a Trust Deed signed by Andrew Carnegie, the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland aims to provide “funds for improving and extending the opportunities for scientific study and research in the Universities of Scotland”.

The QNI, our sister organisation covering the rest of the UK is passionate about improving nursing care for people being nursed at home and in the community. To help achieve this, they can award an educational grant of up to £500 to applicants undertaking a course that reflects this intention. (not available to nurses in Scotland)

Mid-career professionals, academic researchers, clinicians, hospital or insurance managers, government policymakers and journalist from the UK and seven other countries can apply for a Harkness Fellowship. Fellows spend up to 12 months in the United States, working with leading US experts to study health care delivery reforms and critical issues on the health policy agenda in both the US and their home countries. Each fellowship will provide up to $119,000 in support.

The Early Clinical Career Fellowships (ECCF) are an exciting opportunity for nurses and midwives who are committed to developing their leadership potential in the early stages of their career. The fellowships are funded by Scottish Government Health Directorates. The fellowships support enthusiastic, motivated and talented nurses and midwives at an early stage in their career to develop personally, professionally and academically. The fellowships include release from practice to access funded part time masters level education, mentorship/clinical coaching, action learning sets and masterclasses. (not currently available)

Project Funding

This Burdett Trust programme will make small grants to projects that are nurse-led and focussed on supporting the nursing contribution to healthcare. All projects must be focussed on improving care for patients through nursing and may include multi-professional or team-working interventions. Projects may involve clinical care, environment of care, social care, leadership and/or education.

Travel Funding

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (WCMT) funds British citizens, resident in the UK, to travel overseas to study areas of topical and personal interest, to gain knowledge and bring back best practice for the benefit of others, their profession and community, in the UK.

Hardship Support

The Nurses Memorial for King Edward VII help those in need by way of gifts for heating, support payments, grants for equipment and single payments when support is needed. Educational bursaries are also available.

The British Geriatrics Society (BGS), as part of its charitable activities, administers a number of grants, prizes and awards with a view to encouraging high quality research and furthering the development of professionals with an interest in older people’s healthcare.

The British Geriatrics Society (BGS) offers a limited number of grants to trained nurses (and nurses in training) with a special interest in the care of elderly people to attend meetings and/or to visit services with an innovative approach.

The grants are available to trained nurses and to nurses still in training irrespective of professional affiliation.